What makes a good research question? That is the question

It can take a lot of time to come up with a good research question, involving the conception, revising, and finalizing. While having a general theme of what your research will be about may not be too difficult, creating a research question that hones in on what you are truly trying to find out takes some work. In my option, a good research question should have these factors:

1. Clear focus and scope – A research question cannot be too broad as it can be difficult to make generalizations with your research project. For example, a study on students should be narrowed down to high school students, adult students, or visa students, etc. Proceeding with the study will be simpler once your subjects of interest are clearly defined.
2. Be feasible – This is something that seems obvious, but can be easily overlooked. We can all ask good questions, but a good research question needs to be something that is possible be examined with available resources and expertise.
3. Examines something new – A good research question would ideally lead to new research. New research does not necessarily have to involve new concepts, as a lot of research is built upon previous studies. A lot of research papers conclude with “further research is needed” which is an opening for more study.

Naturally there are many other qualities that a good research question has, which our classmates have posted or will post. Lastly, I think an important thing to remember is one does not have to be limited to one research question. If you are looking to examine multiple theories and ideas, it’s a good idea to have two or three research questions rather than trying to put it all in one question.